Membership Letter and Founding Principles

Dear Kleine Munsterlander Owner,

I am writing to you on behalf of a new breed club for the Kleine (“Small”) Münsterländer that was established in North America at the end of 2013. Since 2011, an effort has been ongoing to develop a close relationship with the parent breed club in Germany, the Kleine Münsterländer, the Verband für Kleine Münsterländer e.V.. The purpose has been to secure, improve and diversify the breed stock of the Kleine Münsterländer in North America. Unfortunately, previous attempts to establish this relationship failed, so in December 2013, articles of incorporation were filed to establish a new breed club, Kleine Münsterländer – Group North America (KlM-GNA).

KlM-GNA’s mission is all about the dogs—preserving the versatility of the classic Kleine Münsterländer for generations of hunters to come. To accomplish this we intend to follow the same principles and standards that have enabled this wonderful breed to flourish in Germany for decades. Our goal is to provide the North American foot hunter with the best hunting partner and family companion possible. We believe that becoming a chapter (Landesgruppe) of the Verband für Kleine Münsterländer and working closely with the parent club is the best way of achieving this goal.

And now in March 2015, at the KlM Annual Meeting in Fulda, Germany, KlM-GNA was unanimously voted the 17th “Landesgruppe” of the club and first one outside of Germany.

So what are the consequences and implications of being a Landesgruppe of the German parent club, the Verband für Kleine Münsterländer?

Only KlM-GNA has been granted permission to use the logo of the parent club, the Verband für Kleine Münsterländer.

KlM-GNA will be the sole North American member of KlM International (KlM-I) and will pursue active collaboration with other KlM-I member countries.

Club membership requirements for KlM-GNA will include these provisions:

Members should be hunters.

Members of KlM-GNA accept the club’s bylaws and breeding regulations. The founding principles of the Verband für Kleine Münsterländer prohibit membership in other KlM/Small Munsterlander Clubs in North America.

We will breed and test to maintain the profile of the “classic” Kleine Münsterländer, which is a versatile and proficient hunting dog in all three environments: the field, water, and forest.

KlM-GNA has endorsed the core breeding concept of the parent club, “performance breeding.” This requires stud dogs and breeding bitches to satisfactorily present at a Breed Show, to meet club health standards and to pass the two German breed tests: the VJP (similar to the NAVHDA Natural Ability test) and the HZP (roughly equivalent to NAVHDA UPT). Both tests are organized by the JGHV (German Versatile Hunting Dog Association).

In an effort to consolidate and build the Kleine Munsterlander breed stock in North America, the parent club Verband für Kleine Münsterländer has agreed to:

Issue FCI Pedigrees to all currently approved KlM-GNA breed stock in North America upon submission of current pedigree, hip documents, test scores, and conformation evaluation report. All offspring of KlM-GNA breedings will also receive FCI Pedigrees, which will allow participation in JGHV tests.

KlM-GNA member dog’s JGHV tests, breed show results, and health data will be centrally recorded in KlM-D’s breed registry and in the DogBase breeding program, a crucial means of improving breeders’ ability to make sound pairing decisions.

To help accommodate current breeding plans of KlM-GNA Breeders, KlM-GNA will allow breeding of approved dogs who have not yet achieved a Prize in the NAVHDA UPT or UT until April 1, 2015. The pairing, however, must be with a mate who has achieved two levels of tests and prized in both levels of NAVHDA or passed two levels of JGHV tests (or combination of NA or VJP and UPT/UT or HZP). After April 1, 2015 KlM-GNA requires that both dogs in a pairing must have achieved prizes in two levels of tests, either in the JGHV or NAVHDA system (NAVHDA tests require prizing in NA and UPT or UT.) All offspring produced from KlM-GNA approved matings must comply with KlM-D Breeding Regulations to be approved for breeding.

Active KlM-GNA members may submit their existing dogs, not produced under KlM-GNA, for breeding approval consideration until January 1, 2019.

JGHV Testing (for more details, see www.jgv-usa.org):

The JGHV has been successfully testing versatile hunting dogs for over 100 years. The tests can be successfully completed by all ordinary hunters, just as German hunters have been doing for decades.

JGHV tests the full range of natural abilities, including work in the field, water and forest.

All members and Kleine Münsterländer handlers will be encouraged to participate in the JGHV tests to prepare their dogs to be good hunting companions and for the enjoyment of preparing for and participating in these tests.

KlM-GNA is the only Kleine Münsterländer breed club in North America recognized by the JGHV, KlM-Germany and KlM-I.

Though breeders always have the final word in breeding decisions, the KlM-GNA Breed Warden will play a central role in planning an overall strategy for the Kleine Münsterländer in the years ahead by consulting closely with experts in Germany and other KlM-I member countries.

Why become a member of KlM-GNA?

You will become a member of the only Chapter (Landesgruppe) of the German parent club, KlM-D, outside of Germany.

You will have access to Kleine Munsterlander imports from German and International breeders.

You will be able to share the know-how, experience and advice of Kleine Munsterlander experts here and abroad.

You will become part of KlM-International, a network of international Kleine Munsterlander breed clubs.

You can receive an FCI Register pedigree for your dog as described above. This allows dogs to participate in JGHV tests.

You will become part of the JGHV community of North American versatile hunting breed affiliates.

You will be able to participate in JGHV tests and KlM-GNA Breed Shows.

You will have access to Germany’s DogBase breeding program.

You will receive newsletters, Club updates and invitations to JGHV training seminars and other activities.

You will receive support from fellow members in training, testing, breeding, and learn of hunting opportunities for your Kleine Munsterlander.

You will gain access to the Members-Only area of the KlM-GNA website, including access to English translations of German articles and reports on training, testing, breeding and hunting the Kleine Munsterlander.

You will be able to attend the KlM-GNA Annual Meeting and Seminars.

You will have an opportunity to attend KlM-D parent club activities in Germany.

You will be able to purchase KlM-GNA and KlM-D merchandise with the official logo.

In addition as a breeder you will:

Have access to German Kleine Munsterlander genetics, including sperm, stud dogs and imports from German and International breeders.

Receive FCI Register Pedigrees for qualified North American dogs and their offspring.